Counter-terror bill published, slammed by civil liberty groups

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill was published on Wednesday, introducing major measures to tackle terror plotters and backers, including plans to stop British jihadists from returning to the UK and others from leaving.

Home Secretary Theresa
May outlined the nine principal elements of the bill, which is
the seventh major counter-terror law introduced in Britain since
9/11. However, there have been concerns over a number of
proposals, as suspects could use loopholes to avoid the
measures.

The bill is aimed at tackling the growing threat posed by Islamic
State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) which, according to May, have
given “energy and a renewed sense of purpose to subversive
Islamist organizations and radical leaders” in Britain. She
added that the UK faces a greater terror threat than ever before.

One measure introduced is to ban British citizens who have
traveled abroad to fight for terrorist groups from reentering the
UK. For this, the government outlines cancelation of travel
documents, including suspects’ details on British border 'watch
lists' and no-fly lists.

“So the message to British nationals participating in
terrorism overseas is clear: you will only be allowed to come
home on our terms,” May said.

However, legal concerns have arisen from this proposal, as the
measure includes a plan to make the individual choose between
coming home to Britain and put under monitoring by security
services or being banned from the UK for up to two years, even
though they will in effect be left stateless.

There are also concerns of possible loopholes that could be used
to avoid this measure, by way of ferry ports and light aircraft.

Greater powers are also being introduced to stop people heading
abroad to fight – including the cancelation of passports at the
border for up to 30 days. Police and Border Force officers will
be able to seize the passports and tickets of British citizens if
they suspect an individual intends to engage in terrorism-related
activities at their destination.

Authorities will also be able to force suspects to move to
another part of the country, as part of changes to TPIMs –
Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures – amounting to
internal exile.

Another counter-radicalization measure is the requirement that
schools, colleges and probation providers help “prevent
individuals being drawn into terrorism.” This includes
banning extremist speakers from campus grounds.

Internet service providers are also required to retain data on
so-called internet protocol (IP) addresses to enable authorities
to identify individual users.

Aviation security is being tightened. Airlines are required to
provide passenger data in advance, including credit card details.
If they fail to do so they could be denied landing rights.

Some German airlines have refused to disclose passenger
information because of the nation’s stricter data protection
laws, but around 90 percent of flights originating from Europe
supply this data.

However, the bill has already been criticized by experts,
claiming it threatens civil liberties.

The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson
QC, appointed by the UK government, said, “The concern I have
about this power and the central concern about it is: where are
the courts in all of this?

“One could look at it in terms of young, possibly vulnerable
people caught up with the wrong crowd in Syria – didn't really
know exactly what they were doing,” he told a committee of
MPs.

“Do you want to throw the book at them straight away in terms
of arrest and charge? Or is there something to be said, even
though you do suspect them of having fought, of keeping them
under a very light regime where they might have to report daily
to a police station?

“They might have to notify [of] their residence; they might
have to go along to meetings with probation or with some similar
which perhaps might be for some people be a more sensible way of
dealing with them than putting them straight into the criminal
justice process.”